Layoffs at Diamond, DC Comics, Top Cow

By Heidi MacDonald -- Publishers Weekly, 1/23/2009 1:49:00 PM

Several comics and graphic novel companies announced layoffs and cutbacks, among them Diamond Comics Distributors, DC Comics and California comics publisher Top Cow.

One of the largest job eliminations took place at Diamond Comics Distributors, the biggest distributor for periodical comics and graphic novels in North America. Thirteen people were laid off yesterday and some remaining staff and management were asked to take a pay cut. The cuts were a result of a 4% drop in sales last year and a further projected drop this year, according to a letter from Diamond COO Chuck Parker.

DC Comics also reported layoffs yesterday, including much-respected editor Bob Schreck, who had been with the company 10 years and worked on such acclaimed books as writer Grant Morrison’s All-Star Superman. Other cuts at DC Comics were centered around the magazine business, including several at MAD magazine. The layoffs were reported as DC’s parent company Warner Brothers announced a 10% reduction in the company’s employment worldwide.

Earlier in the week Top Cow, one of the studio imprints at Image Comics, and publisher of Wanted, the graphic novel upon which the hit movie was based, announced that editorial v-p, Rob Levin and v-p of sales and marketing Mel Caylo will be leaving the company.